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AIR travel continued its upward trajectory in October 2025, with global demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rising 6.6 per cent compared with the same month last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Total seat capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased by 5.8 per cent year-on-year, signalling strong underlying market resilience.
IATA reported that the global load factor climbed 0.7 percentage points to 84.6 per cent in October, compared with October 2024.
The association said the month marked particularly strong growth for North American carriers, which recorded 4.5 per cent expansion in international traffic after several months of flat performance.
“The trends for the rest of the year look encouraging: scheduled seat capacity in November is set to expand 3.6 per cent and in December by 4.7 per cent.
“This points to strong demand for holiday travel and businesses looking to complete deals by the end of the year,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
He also emphasised the broader significance of air travel, noting that despite economic uncertainties heading into 2026, the sector’s resilience—supporting jobs and economic growth—remains a vital area for governmental support.
Breaking down the figures further, international demand rose by 8.5 per cent in October, with capacity climbing 7.1 per cent and the load factor increasing 1.1 percentage points to 84.6 per cent.
Domestic markets showed a more modest rise, with demand up 3.4 per cent, capacity growing 3.6 per cent, and the load factor declining slightly by 0.1 percentage point year-on-year.
Regionally, Asia-Pacific carriers led the charge with a 10.9 per cent increase in demand, capacity up 9.1 per cent, and a 1.4 percentage point rise in load factor to 84.4 per cent.
“International traffic within Asia had a stellar performance, with traffic to and from China, Japan, and Vietnam experiencing robust expansions, each exceeding 10 per cent year-on-year growth,” IATA noted.
European airlines also reported strong results, with demand rising 7.4 per cent, capacity up 6.0 per cent, and the load factor reaching 86.5 per cent, an increase of 1.2 percentage points compared with October 2024. - November 30, 2025